Fifth-wheel structure



' Dec. 3, 1929. A. P. LEE

FIFTH WHEEL STRUCTURE ori inal Filed Dec. 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 g N\ wJ Q m g 3 NM ww &N W Q ANN kw \Q N .h fl MW m. \N N w ww w%\ o o W% w 4 Q% M%\ d E E u: E E u Q s @& E MN a 6 2% Q Q. u\ W% M Dec. 3,1929. A. P. LEE 1,737,724

FIFTH WHEEL STRUCTURE Original Filed Dec. 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3, 1929. A. P, LEE 7,737,724

FIFTH WHEEL'STRUCTURE Original Filed Dec. 10, 1924 5-.Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 3, 1929. A P, LEE 1,737,724

FIFTH WHEEL STRUCTURE Origi'nal Filed Dec. 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3, 1929. LEE

FIFTH WHEEL STRUCTURE Original Fil ed Dec. 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w 7 4 M 7 I if mu l 0 5 0 6 Patented Dec. 3, 1929' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,"

ALBERT P. LEE, OF PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 LEE TRAILER & BODY ('10.,03' OH'ICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BETH-WHEEL STRUCTURE Application filed December 10, 1924, Serial No. 755,032. Renewed April 11, 1929.

My invention relates to fifth wheel structures and more particularly to a fifth wheel structure for detachably connecting a pullin vehicle with a trailer.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a fifth wheel structure comprising a member mounted on the pulling vehicle and a member mounted on the vehicle that is to be pulled or the trailer, said members being provided with means for automatically connecting the same together so that said members will have a relative turning movement to permit turning of the vehicles relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis.

- It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character in which one of the fifth wheel members is provided with a guideway that is adapted to receive a member carried by the other fifth wheel member and guide the same into position to couple the fifth wheel members together automatically.

' It is still a further purpose of the invention to provide a device of the abow mentioned character in which the membershave interengaging means to prevent separation thereof when the means carried by one of said members that engages the guideway on the other of said members reaches its final operative position. Said means preferably comprises an overhanging ledge or flange on one of said members under which a flange, that is preferably annular, on the other ofsaid members is adapted to engage and amember carried by one of said members adapted ,to engage in an opening in the other of said members when said parts reach their final operative position so that the interengaging flanges of the members cannot be moved out of intereng'aging position.

More particularly,it is a purpose of my invention to provide a fifth wheel structure comprising a pair of members that are adapted to be connected together for relative turning movement abouta substantially vertical axis, one of said members being provided with a guideway having an open endand a closed end said member being provided with an' said members. having a depending member provided with an annular flange that is adapted to engage under the overhanging flange or ledge of the first mentioned member, said member having the depending portion being provided with a king pin that 'is normally urged toward the guideway and that is adapted to engage in an opening in the guideway to hold the parts in position with the annular flange engaging under the ledge. 4

It is still a further purpose of the invention to provide said guideway with an inclined surface tending to move the king pin in a direction to tension the resilient means that is provided for projecting the same into the opening; and to provide means for retracting the king pin when it is desired to disconnect said fifth wheel member to detach the trailing vehicle from the pulling vehicle. The inclined guideway in applicants, device is primarily intended for forcing the king pin upwardly to retract the same, and not for the purpose of raising the wheels ofi the ground. The guideway is preferably furthermore provided with side wall portions that converge toward the. closed end of said guideway and with members projecting from the open end of said guideway in diverging relation so as to guide the depending member carrying the king pin into said guideway.

It is still another purpose of the invention to provide a fifth wheel structure comprising pulling vehicle so as to be in a proper position to receive the upper member when said vehicles are brought into such a relative position that the two parts of the fifth wheel structure may be coupled together.

It is still another purpose of the invention to provide means for mounting the lower member of said fifth wheel structure upon a "ehicle framework so that the vertical position of the same relative to said framework may be adjusted comprising a pair of members pivotally mounted on the vehicle framework and having arms carrying said lower member on the end thereof and arms extending at an angle to said first mentioned arms that are adj ustably connected with the vehicle framework. The lower fifth wheel member is preferably tiltably mounted on the ends of said arms and means is provided connected with the forward end ofsaid fifth wheel member and the framework preferably at the pivotal axis of the levers to limit the upward movement of the forward end of said lower fifth wheel member. The other arms of the levers preferably have springs connected therewith, the ends of which are adjustably mounted relative to the framework. By adjusting the position of the ends of the springs, the ends of the arms carrying the lower fifth .wheel member are adjustable, thus adjusting the vertical position of said lower fifth wheel member. As said lower fifth wheel member is somewhat overbalanced toward the rear end thereof, the limiting means will normally be substantially taut and a lowering of the ends of the arms carrying the lower fifth wheel member will tilt said fifth wheel member so as to depress the rear end thereof or the open end of the guideway while the movement in the opposite direction will raise said open end of the guideway.

Other objects and advantages of the invent1on will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. However, I desire to have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described, but that I intend to include as part of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the rear portion of a pulling vehicle showing a trail or mounted thereon and my improved fifth wheel structure for connecting said trailer to said pulling vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved fifth wheel structure and fragments of the trailer and pulling vehicle framework adjacent thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of my improved fifth wheel structure showing portions of the pulling vehicle and trailer adjacent thereto, said section being taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4:"4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the improved coupling device for the fifth wheel structure.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a pulling vehicle framework 10 provided with the rear wheels 11 and a trailer 12 having a framework 13 that is provided with a raised portion 14 at the forward end thereof that is adapted to be mounted on-the rear portion of the framework 10 by the fifth wheel structure forming the subject matter of my invention.

The trailer 12 is provided with rear wheels 15 and with supporting members 16 carrying the wheels 17 that are adapted to engage with the ground to support the forward end of the trailer when the same is not in position on the pulling vehicle framework 10. Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the framework 10 has the cross members 18 and 19 mounted thereon which are connected together by means of the longitudinally extending members 20 and 21. Secured t0 the longitudinally extending members 20 and 21 by means of the bolts or other securing members 22, are the bearing members 23 in which is mounted the transversely extending shaft 24. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 24 are the levers 25 having the forwardly extending arms26 and rearwardly extending arms 27 which extend at an oblique angle to each other. The arms 27 as-will be noted from Fig. 2, exten'd substantially parallel to each other and are provided with bearings 28 on the ends thereof for the transversely-extending shaft Mounted on said transversely extending shaft 29 is the lower fifth wheel member 30,

said member being provided with depending into a pair of rearwardly extending arms 34.

Said arms 34 are provided with beveled or inclined inner edges 35 that diverge rearwardly.

The member 30 is further provided with a depressed portion 36 which lies rearwardly of an overhanging lip portion 37 and extends below said lip portion 37 to provide a recess thereunder. The depressed portion 36 is provided with. substantially straight side walls 38 that merge into a curved wall portion 39 connecting the same. The portion 36 is substantially fiat and merges with an inclined depressed portion 40 which is provided with the straight side walls 41 which are extensions of the walls 38 and with the rearwardly diverging side walls 42 that are substantially a continuation of the edge portions 35 of the members 34. The inclined portion 40 terminates in a depending lip or flange 43.

It will be seen that the depressed portions 40 and 36 and the wall portions 41 and 42 form a guideway that decreases in width trailer being moved forwardly relative to the pulling vehicle, no matter whether the pulling vehicle is. backed into the trailer 01f the'trailer is pushed onto the pulling vehicle. Normally, the pulling vehicle would be backed into the trailer and the actual movement would be that the member 30 moves under the member 44 rearwardl'y.

This, however, is in effect that the member 44 moves forwardly on the guideway.

The upper fifth wheel-member 45 is mounted on the cross members 46, 47, 48, and 49 of the raised portion 14 of the trailer framework. Mounted between the cross members 47 and 48 is a casting 50 which has the depending member 44 projecting downwardly therefrom and preferably cast integral therewith. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the li or ledge 37 isprovided with a beveled ace 51 and has a vertical wall portion 52 connecting said beveled wall portion 51 with the depressed portion 36 of themember 30. The member 44, it will be further observed, is providedwith an annular flange 53 that is provided with a beveled face 54 corresponding tothebevel of the face 51. The casting 50 is further provided with a substantially vertical bore having a portion 55 that is adapted to slidingly receive a king pin 56, said bore extending through the depending member 44 and said king pin 56 being-adapted to engage in an opening 57 in the guideway at the flat portion 36 thereof, the fifth wheel member 30 being provided with a depending hollow boss 58 to reinforce said member at the opening 57. Upon reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the casting 50 is provided with an enlarged bore 59 for housing the coil spring 60 that surrounds the reduced upper end portion 61- of the king pin 56 and which bears against the end wall 62 of the bore 59 and against the shoulder 63 provided where the reduced portion 61 joins with the enlarged portion of the king pin 56.

Thus, it will be seen that the king pin 56 will be normally projected downwardly by the spring 60. In order to limit the downward movement of the king, pin, a washer 64 is provided on the reduced portion 61 of the king pin externally of the casting and is held in place by means of the cotter pin 65.

It will be seen that as the mmber44 moves into engagement with the inclined ortion 40 of the guideway, the pin 56 will e moved.

upwardly due to engagement with said inclined portion, thus compressing the spring 60. The spring is held-in compressed condition until the king pin 56 aligns itself with the opening 57 which occurs when the annular flange 53 reaches its position under the lip or edge 37. The king pin 56 is then projected into the opening 57, thuspreventing a return movement of the member 44 rear-v Wardly relative to the member 30 and preventing disengagement of the flanges 53 and 37 which hold the fifth wheel members 30 and 45 from separation vertically.

Means is'provided for disengaging said fifth wheel members when it is desired to uncouple the trailer from the pulling vehicle, said means comprises a cam member 66 that is provided with a lateral extension 67 to which the handle 68 is connected for operating the same. Said cam member is provided with a depending annular flange portion 69 which is of varying height so as to provide a cam surface that is adapted to engage with the upper side edges of the casting 50 to move said king pin 56 out of the opening 57. Said depending flange portion c mit is shown in full lines to the right thereof in Fig. 2. Whenthe cam face 72 engages with the upper surface-of the member 50, the spring 60 is compressed and the pin 56 is withdrawn from the opening 57, thusper- -mittin movemento'f the member 44 along the guldeway until said fifth wheel members are out of engagement.

It will be clear that the cam member 66 is mounted between the washer 64 and the mem ber 50 and that the pin is retracted by engagement of the upper surface 73 of the cam 66 with the washer 64. In order to. limit the movement of the king pin upwardly, the

extension 74 of the cam member 66 is provided aiid a shoulder 75 is provided between the portions 74 and 72 that engages with the .side of the casting 50 asw'ill be clear from between the cross members 47 and 48. An enlargement or boss 80 is provided. on'said castin which has an opening 81 for accommodatmg the bolt or rod-like member 82 which forms a portion of the locking mechanism for the bod of the trailer comprising the bolt-like memh r 83 which enters an opening 84 in the casting 85 provided on the framework 86 that is adapted to move; with the dumping body 87, the details of this structure being more full describedin my copending application, berial No. 755,031, filed Dec. 10, 1924, and which forms no part of the subject matter of this invention.

The forward end of the lower fifth wheel member 30 is connected by means of a chain or other limiting means 88 with the framework of the vehicle 10. In the form of the invention shown, the chain 88 is connected with an eye 89 at the forward end of the member 30 and with a clip 90 engaged around the shaft 24.

The arms 26 of the levers 25 are made in the form of a housing and are provided with grooves 91 for holding the shackle bolts 92 that are adapted to clamp the leaf springs 93 tosaid housings. It will be noted that the members 26 converge toward'the forward end of the vehicle and that said springs 93 converge toward the forward end of the vehicle.

Mounted on the framework made up of the members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are the vertically extending brackets 94 which are provided with suitable openings 95 shown more clearly in Fig. 7 for the pivot pins or trunnions 96 provided in the casting 97 which is provided with an upward tubular extension 98 and which has a bore 99 that is adapted to receive the bolt-like member 100 having a head 101 engaging the depending boss 102 on said casting 97. The bolt-like member 100 is provided with a threaded portion 103 that. screwthreadedly engages with the casting 104 which is provided with the trunnions 105 mounted in the pivot openings 106 in the bracket members 107 provided on the casting 108 that connects the front end of the springs 93 to each other and to the framework by means of the bolts 109. The member 100 is provided with a squared upper end 110 to which a tool may be applied for turning the same, it being obvious that by turning the member 100 in the proper direction, the casting 104 can be movedaway from the casting 97 or toward the same as desired either raising or lowering the ends of the springs 93. I

When the springs 93 are raised as shown in dotted lines in 'Fig. 3, the ends of the arms 27 carrying the bearing members 29 are low ered. I This will cause a downward tilting of the member 30 and due to the provision. of the chain 88 this movement is limited, it being obvious that due to the greater weight existing at the rear half of the member 30, this end will tend to go down. In a similar manner, if the reverse is done, the member 30 will be raised instead of'lowered. It is sometimes Very desirable to be able to lower the member 30 as the upper fifth wheel member 45 and its depending member 44 may not otherwise be..in a proper position to engage with the guideway dueto the fact that the wheels 17 supporting the trailer might be in some depression.

After the trailer has been properly coupled with the pulling vehicle, the member 100 15 adjusted to pro erly tension, the springs 93 so as to obtain t e proper load carryin'g position for the body 87 on the trailer and to obtain the proper spring action of the yielding mounting of the fifth wheel structure. Two pairs of trunnions provided in the connection between the ends of the springs and the ve-.

hicle framework are necessary due to the fact that the ends of the springs 93 move in the arc of a circle as the same are moved upwardly or downwardly, thus making it necessary to allow tilting of the member '100 as is clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a fifth wheel structure, a swivel connection comprising a member having an undercut portion, a member having projecting means engageable with the undercut portion of said first member and means on one of said members automatically engagingwith the other of said members when said projecting means engages w th said undercut portion for holding sald members in position to swivel with said projecting means engagedwith said undercut portion, said holding means being provided with means for moving the same out of holding position to disengage said members.

2. In a fifth Wheel structure, a pair of superposed members having inter'engageable swivel bearing means to hold the same against separation but permitting relative rotation of said members, said means being in terengageable by relative movement of said members and a lockin members automaticalI device or one of said y engaging with the other of said members upon movement of said member in a direction to cause interengagement of said members. a

3. In a fifth wheel structure, a pair of superposed members having interengageable swivel bearing means to hold the same against separation but permitting relative rotation of said members, said means being interengageable by relative movement of'said members in a predetermined direction and a looking device on one of said members automatimembers movable in the direction of said axis to engage the other-of said members to hold said members from movement transversely of said axis.

5. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member, an upper member detachably connectible therewith, and means for detachably connecting said members comprising a pivot member and co-operating shoulders on said upper and lower members, the shoulder on one of said members being movable under the shoulder on the other of said members by movement transversely of said pivot, said pivot member being mounted on one of said fifth wheel members and being movable into engagement with the other of said fifth Wheel members to hold said shoulders in engagement.

6. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member, an upper member detachably connectible therewith, and means for detachably connecting said members comprising a pivot member and (Jo-operating shoulders on said upper and lower members, the shoulder on one of said members being movable under the shoulder on the other of said members by movement transversely of said pivot, said pivot member being mounted on one of said fifth wheel members and being automatically movable into engagement with the other of said fifth wheel members to hold said shoulders in engagement upon movement of said shoulders into co-operative relation.

7. In a fifth wheel structure, a member having an overhanging shoulder thereon, a mem-' ber movable into superposed relation to said first member having a depending portion provided with a flange'engaging under said shoulder and a king pin on said last member,

said first member having an opening with which said king pin engages when said flange is in engagement with said shoulder.

8. In a fifth wheel structure, a member hav-- ing an overhanging shoulder thereon, a memher having a depending portion provided with an annular flange engaging under said shoulder and a king pin on said'last member,

said first member having an opening with,

which said king pin engages when said flange is in engagement with said shoulder.

9. In a fifth wheel structure a member having an overhanging shoulder thereon, a member having a depending portion provided with a flange engaging under said shoulder, a king pin on said last member, and means urging said king pin axially toward said first member, said first member having an opening with which said king pin engages when said flange is in engagement with said shoulder.

10. In a fifth wheel structure a member having an overhanging shoulder thereon, a member having a depending portion provided with a flange engaging under said shoulder,

vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon, a member on theother of said vehicles having means engaging said uideway when said vehicles are brought into uxta osition, interengaging means at the end 0 said guideway and on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holding said last member from movementalong said guideway when said means'interenga e. p

12. A device or supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, a member on the other of said vehicles having means engaging said guideway when said vehicles.

are brought into juxtaposition, interengaging means at the closed end of said guideway an on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holdmg sald last member from return movement toward the open end of said guideway.

13. A device for supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having an inclined guideway thereon open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, a member on the other of said vehicles having means engaging said guideway when sai vehicles are brought into juxtapositmn, 1n terengaging means at the closed end of said for holding said last member from return movement toward the open end of said guide- 1 1. A device for supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to perrmt relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof and flar ing toward the open end thereof, a member on the other of said vehicles hav ng means engaging said guidewavwhen saidvehicles are brought into juxtagositlon, interengagmg means at the closed en of said gmdeway-an on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holdmg said last member from'return movement toward the open end of said guideway.

a king pin on said last member, resilient means vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit urging said king pin axially toward said first relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having an inclined guideway thereon open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof and flaring toward the open end thereof, a member on the other of said vehicles having means engaging said guideway when said vehicles are brought into juxtaposition, interengaging means at the closedend of said guideway and on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holding said last member from return movement toward the open end of said guide- 1 25. A device for supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon, a member on the other of said vehicles having means engaging said guideway when said vehicles are brought into juxtaposition, interengaging means at the end of said guideway and on said last member to hold said members from separation, means for holding said last member from movement along said guideway when said means interengage, said guideway having an open and a closed end, and means for adjusting the height of the open end of said guideway.

' 17 A device for supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon,a member on the; other of said vehicles having means engaging said guideway when said vehicles are brought into uxtaposition, interengaging means ;at the end of the said guidew'ay and on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holding sai'df'l fast mem ber from movement along said guideway when said means interengage, comprising a pin, resilient means normally urging said pin toward said guideway, said guideway engaging said pin to tension said resilient means as the member carrying the same moves along said guideway, said. guideway having an opening into which said pin is projected when said interengaging means interengage. 18. A device for supporting one end of a vehicle upon another vehicle so as to permit relative turning of said vehicles comprising a member on one of said vehicles having a guideway thereon, a member on the other of said vehicles having means engaging said uideway when said vehicles are brought into juxtaposition, interengaging means at the end of said guideway and on said last member to hold said members from separation, and means for holding said last member from -movement along said guideway when said means interengage, comprising a pin, resilient means normally urging said pin toward said guideway, said guideway having an upwardly inclined surface engaging said pin to tension said resilent'means as the member carryng the same moves along said guideway, said guideway having an opening into which said pin is projected when said interengaging means interengage.

19. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage under said lip and resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said king pin when said flange engages under said ,lip.

20. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed 'at the other end thereof, an over hanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway said guideway having side walls converging from the open toward the closed end thereof, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage under said lip and resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said king pin whensaid flange engages under said lip.

21. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway, said guideway having side walls converging from the open toward the closed end thereof, guide members projecting from the open end of said guideway in diverging relation, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage under said lip and rcsilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said kin pin when said flange engages under said ip.

22. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway, said guideway having side walls converging from the open toward the closed end thereof, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage .under said lip and resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an inclined hotdue to said resilient means as said upper and lower members are moved into engaging relation and an opening receiving said kmg pm when said flange engages under said lip.

23. In a fifth wheel strlfcture, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway belng open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage .under said lip, resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said king pin when said flange engages under said lip, and means for withdrawing said king pin from saidopening.

24. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower member having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed endof said guideway, means on said upper member having an annular flange adapted to engage under said lip, resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said king pin when said flange engages under said lip, and means for withdrawing saidking pin from said opening, comprising a cam carried by said king pin, means on said upper member engaged thereby and means for rotating said cam.

25. In a fifth wheel structure, a lower memher having a guideway, an upper member having a king pin depending therefrom, said guideway being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, an overhanging lip on said lower member at the closed end of said guideway, means on said u per member having an annular flange a apted to engage under said lip, resilient means urging said king pin downwardly, said guideway having an opening receiving said king pin when said flange engages under saidlip, and means for withdrawing said king pin from said opening, comprising a cam carried by said king pin, means on said upper member engaged thereby and means for rotating said cam, said cam having a stop to limit the movement of said pin.

26. fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for rela tive rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower 'member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected'with'said framework and said lower member.

27. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle porting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising avpair of arms pivotally connected with said framework and said lower member, resilient means, means on said arms engaging said resilient means to yieldingly oppose'the movement of said arms and means for adjusting said resilient means.

29. A fifth wheel structure comprising a 2 lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of'levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework, each of said levers having anarm pivotally securedto said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounted on said framework each engaging with one of said last mentioned arms.

30. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework, each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured to said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounted at one end thereof on saidframework each engaging with one of said last mentioned arms.

31. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally. mounted on said yehicle framework, each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured to said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounted at one end thereof on said framework and each secured at the other end thereof to one of said last mentioned arms.

32. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting saidmembers for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member. upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework, f each of said levers having an arm pivotally justably mounted on said framework each engaging with one of said last mentioned arms.

33. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework,

each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured-to said lower member, andan arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounted at one end thereof on said framework and each secured at the other end thereof to one of said last mentioned arms, the ends of saidsprings mounted on said framework being adjustable to adjust the position of said lower member.

34. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicleframework,

each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured to said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounetd at one end thereof on said framework and each secured at the other end thereof to one of said last mentioned arms, the mounting for said springs comprising a member to which the ends of said springs are secured and a member pivotally secured thereto and to said framework.

35. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework, each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured to said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, and springs mounted at one end thereof on said frame- -workand each secured at the other end thereof to one of said last mentioned arms, the ends of said springs mounted on said-framework being adjustable to adjust the position of said lowermember, the mounting for said springs comprising a member to which the ends of said springs are secured, a member pivotally secured thereto and to said framework and means for adjusting the spacing of said pivots to raise or lower the ends of the springs relative to the framework.

36. The combination with a vehicle having supporting means at one end thereof movable in to and out of ground engaging supporting position and a vehicle upon which said end of said first vehicle is adapted to be sup ported. of means for automatically connecting said vehicles so that said vehicles are adapted to turn relatively about a substanmember when said supporting means is in engagement with the ground. 1 37. The combination with a vehlcle having supporting means at one end thereof movable into ahd out of round engaging supporting position and a ve icle upon which said end of said first. vehicle is adapted to be supported, of means for automatically connecting said vehicles so that said vehicles are adapted to turn relatively about a substantially vertical axis, comprising. an open ended guideway on one of said vehicles, a member on the other of said vehicles adapted to engage with said guidewayand means for adjusting the position of the open end of said guideway so as to lie below the bottom of said member when said supporting means is in engagement with-the ground, comprising arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle having said guideway, a. guideway supporting member pivoted on said arms and means for adjusting the angularity of said arms to raise and lower said guideway supporting member.

38. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for yieldingly supporting said lower member upon a vehicle framework comprising a pair'of levers pivotally mounted on said vehicle framework, each of said levers having an arm pivotally secured to said lower member, and an arm extending at an angle thereto, means extending from said framework to' said lower member to limit the upward movement ofthe forward end thereof, and springs mounted at one end thereof on said framework and each secured at the other end thereof to one of said last mentioned arms, the ends of said springs mounted on said" framework being adjustable 39. A fifth wheel structure comprising a lower member, an' -upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for adjust ably mounting said lower member on a vehicle framework comprising levers pivotally mounted on said framework and each having a pair of arms extending at an angle to each other from said pivot, said lower member being mounted on the ends of certain of the arms of said pairs and the other arms of said pairs being adjustably connected with said framework.

40. A fifth Wheel structure comprising a lower member, an upper member, means for detachably connecting said members for relative rotation, and means for adjustably mounting said lower member on a ve- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of November, A. D. 1924.

ALBERT P. LEE. 

